Modding

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Through modding, the player wields two Energy Swords at one time which is not possible in normal gameplay.

Modding is the practice of altering a video game by modifying its program code or game resources. This can include anything from simple texture or palette swaps to the creation of entirely new maps, features, or gameplay mechanics. Some mods directly alter in-game files, while others run independently and manipulate the game’s memory at runtime.

Due to its frequent association with cheating, modding is strictly prohibited on Xbox LIVE and within the Project Cartographer application for Halo 2 Vista. The use of a modded Xbox, modified game clients, or unauthorized tools while connected to Xbox LIVE or PC public services may result in the immediate termination or banning of your account.

Modding within the Halo series is possible across both PC and Xbox 360 platforms, but only when disconnected from Xbox LIVE services. Halo Custom Edition, a PC port of Halo: Combat Evolved, was specifically released with support for user-created content and modding. Additionally, Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC allows players to disable anti-cheat protections at launch, enabling mod support at the cost of disabling Xbox LIVE functionality such as multiplayer matchmaking.

Modding typically involves editing the Blam engine—the core engine used throughout many Halo titles—using external tools like Assembly or Mr. Mohawk to manipulate engine behavior and assets.

Mod compatibility by game

Mod support for Halo titles depends depending on the game and platform in question - notably, Xbox One games have very little modding support.

Game	Ability to Mod	Platform(s)	Method
Halo: Combat Evolved, PC port and Halo Custom Edition	Yes	PC and Xbox	PC and Xbox: Various mod tools. Halo: Custom Edition is designed for modding and user content, and thus has a wide degree of compatibility.
Halo 2	Yes	PC, Xbox, and Xbox 360! MCC Version: No	PC: Assembly: The RTE Tool. See tutorial HERE. Xbox Classic: SoftModding. XB360: RGH/JTAG. XB360:Plain Text HDD DLC Map mod swapping.
Halo 3	Yes	Xbox 360 but not Xbox One or MCC	Through JTAG/RGH/XDK
Halo 3: ODST	Yes	Xbox 360 but not MCC	Various tools
Halo Reach	Yes	Xbox 360 but not Xbox One	JTAG/RGH/XDK
Halo 4	Yes	Xbox 360 but not Xbox One or MCC	Unpublished/rare tools besides credit editors found online THAT WILL GET YOU BANNED FAST.
Halo 5	Yes/No. Only on Halo 5: Forge for PC. Not Linked here!	XBOX ONE/PC	Unpublished/rare tools by big name YouTubers! Ex: GameCheat13
Halo: The Master Chief Collection	Yes (Can't enter Matchmaking)	PC (Steam)	Official mod tools (Combat Evolved, 2, 3), Assembly.

Modding Tools

Assembly

Assembly's Home Screen

Modifying the SMG in Halo 2: The Master Chief Collection to fire Sniper Rifle rounds, achieved through Blam engine modifications. This is not possible through standard gameplay mechanics.

Assembly is a powerful modding tool designed for real-time editing across multiple Halo titles, including:

• Halo: Combat Evolved
• Halo 2
• Halo 3
• Halo 3: ODST
• Halo: Reach
• Halo 4

It allows users to modify in-game tags and values while the game is running, enabling deep customization and gameplay alterations not possible through normal means. Assembly supports real-time editing for Halo 2, Halo 3, and Halo: Reach, and as of the latest update, also supports Halo: Combat Evolved.

Resources

• Official Assembly Release (2019.12.20)
• Assembly Basics – MCC (PC Only)
• Assembly Tutorial – Halo 2 (Vista)

Other Tools

• Ascension - Tag editing tool for Halo Reach (similar to Assembly)
  
• Alteration - Tag editing tool for Halo 3 (similar to Assembly)
  
• Liberty - Campaign Game Save Editor
• Halo Signer - GPD Resigner
• Mr. Mohawk – An early Tag editor primarily used for Halo 2 Vista. Compared to Assembly, it lacks modern features such as dropdown menus and real-time editing. All changes require restarting the game to take effect. Mr. Mohawk required editing offsets and magic values, making it more complex and less accessible for casual users.

By game

Halo: Combat Evolved

A flying Warthog in Halo Custom Edition.

Halo Custom Edition, an expansion to Halo PC, allows users to load and play user-made maps. Because all of the game's assets are stored as "tags" in map files, virtually everything that isn't part of the core game engine can be altered by a mapmaker. This, as one might expect, includes core map geometry, AI scripts, map scripts, textures, weather and skybox effects, sounds, weapons, and vehicles. This system, combined with the availability of programs that extract tags from official campaign maps, makes it possible for mapmakers to create custom single-player campaigns, complete with cutscenes.

"Hacks" are technically another form of modding. Hacks generally take the form of third-party programs that a user activates after starting the game. They operate by reading and editing the game's working memory. Hacks usable by clients include aimbots, sightjacking programs, third-person point-of-view and flycam utilities, heads-up display-disabling programs, texture modifications, name hacks, and draw distance changers. Hosts can use a wider variety of hacks without causing desynchronizations; these include dedicated server administration tools, weapon mods, hacks that can change individual players' properties on-the-fly, and even a tool that recreates Halo 3's Infection mode.

Mods and hacks can be used to gain access to retail-only gametypes in the trial version of Halo PC. Programs exist that can convert retail-only maps into demo-compatible maps.

Halo 2 Xbox

The map Ascension, modded to look like an island.

It is possible to modify maps that are installed to the hard drive, such as Containment and Terminal. Because the Halo 2 engine still uses the "tag" system from Halo: Combat Evolved, it is therefore possible to edit any resource or asset in the map. However, mods will not synchronize for all players unless the person using the modded map is host. (So if a client modded Containment to make M7 SMGs fire M808 Scorpion rounds, and then they joined a game hosted by a non-modder, only the client with the mod would see Scorpion rounds come out of their SMG.)

Halo 2 Vista

Halo 2 Vista has software that allows RTE (Real Time Edits) to the campaign levels. This tool is Assembly "Not Related to the Level Assembly" This tool will work on Halo 2 Vista's Campaign along with a few other Halo games! The software does not have protection for Multiplayer maps, but instead hides all Tags from normal multiplayer .map files and puts them in a single file. RTE's Allow the Game (Halo 2 for Windows Vista) to be open while the mods are injected/poked into the game by editing values! The mods are removed when you leave the Mission/Multiplayer! Although you can make SPPF patches with Assembly then later you can use an SPPF Patcher to apply them to the default .MAP files! MAKE BACKUPS OF YOUR .MAP FILES, THEY COULD CORRUPT!

Cheating With Assembly or Tag Editor's.

With the release of Halo 2 Online under the Project Cartographer initiative, tag editing or BLAM engine modification on public servers is strictly prohibited.

Players are permitted to use Tag Editors, Cheats, Mods, or BLAM Modifiers in:

• Private online games (Note: Project Cartographer's Anticheat is disabled in these matches)
• Solo Campaign
• Self-Hosted Dedicated Servers

An advanced anticheat system is actively enforced to ensure that players who cheat in online public matches will receive a permanent ban. There is no easy way back—cheaters will stay banned!

Halo 3

Console-based mods became very widely-available in Halo 3, thanks to the development of the File Share and other ways of transferring user-created content. Though modding on the scale of Halo Custom Edition cannot be done without a devkit or a modded console, user-created Files can be altered using simple utilities to produce unusual effects.

Bungie does not allow the uploading of modded map or game variants to one's File Share, nor do they allow the uploading of modded films, Film Clips, or screenshots. However, they do allow the uploading of un-modded Screenshots and Films showcasing modded map and game variants. After viewing a Film or Film Clip, the map and game variants from that Film are stored in a player's Recent Maps and Recent Gametypes; this allows players to share modded maps and gametypes by simply sharing un-modded Films of those gametypes on those maps.

Jtag/RGH/Devkit mods

Jtag/RGH/Devkit mods are essentially limitless. Any object in any map can be altered to do anything. Examples include:

• The development of entirely new weapons, such as "mind powers".
• Altering weapons and grenades to fire different projectiles, or to spawn various objects (like vehicles, active power drains, or Spartan bipeds) when fired.
• Editing Warthogs so that their tires kick up sniper shots instead of dirt.
• Disabling all kill barriers and invisible walls in a map.
• Changing map textures.
• Biped swaps (such as playing as a Brute in Campaign, or turning Marines into Spartans).
• Playing on the main menu.
• Altering the movement speeds of map scenery, such as the wheel on Last Resort.
• Altering bullet physics; for example, making a Sniper Rifle score headshots through walls, even when missing a target by several feet.
• Attaching a Warthog Turret to another Warthog Turret, attaching that turret to a detached Machine Gun Turret, and then having a player man each turret, such that one player is carrying another player who is carrying another player.

Map variants

Map variants, for example, can be created in Forge and then modded. Forgeable objects can be replaced with any non-terrain objects in a map. Through this method, a variety of development leftovers can be added to maps. These include partially-Forgeable objects from the Halo 3 Epsilon build (Covenant watchtowers and Shades), unused game objects (like rocket launcher ammo cases and Type-33 needler ammo pickups on Blackout), and unused map-specific objects (like a hologram of the Ark on Guardian). Some vehicles cannot be Forged onto a map, but can be modded onto the map; examples include Hornets and Banshees on Narrows, and Warthogs on The Pit. Warthog turrets can be placed independently of a Warthog. Map-specific objects (like Sandtrap's M313 Elephants and Guardian's birds) can be created and moved using modding. Objective objects, such as bombs, skulls and flags, can be modded onto a map, in which case they are available for use in all gametypes. Inactive bipeds (Spartans, Elites, and Monitors) can also be placed on maps. Even large pieces of map scenery, such as the UNSC Aegis Fate on Sandtrap, can be modded, though such mods are only visible to the host.

Gametypes also have the .blf (Blam File Header/Blam Library Format) header, which stores information such as the Variant Name, Variant Author, and Variant Description. These fields may be edited to hold any value, including censored terms and control characters, and displayed in the menu. Control characters allow symbols and icons to be inserted into the map's description. An XML-like syntax allows colored text, the current date and time (updated in real-time), and the name of a viewer's gamertag to be inserted into the description. It can become difficult for any information about the file to be verified locally, including the original author.

Screenshots and Films

Programs allow the armor worn by players in Films to be changed. Any armor permutation may be substituted, including Recon and Bungie Armor. Screenshots can be replaced with any image.

Halo: Reach

Players in Halo: Reach have been able to use offline mods to unlock armor pieces prematurely, "fly" UNSC frigates in Long Night of Solace (by "attaching" the Frigates to Sabres), "fly" the Pillar of Autumn on its titular level (using the same method, but with a Banshee), pilot Seraphs and other normally-unusable vehicles, use Jackal shields and other normally-unusable items, and use a Bungie-exclusive font glyph (the Bungie logo) as a Service Tag.

Devkit mods also revealed hidden functionality in the Beta. One could join and host Local and System Link games, and break into the custom game lobby via the Theater lobby. (Gametype settings were entirely non-functional, though whether this is due to the Beta or due to the devkit mods is unclear.) As in Halo 3, weapons could be altered to fire different projectiles or spawn new objects, like vehicles.

Bungie takes action

Main article: Archive:Bungie With Teeth

The consequence of using mods online

This has become such a widespread problem in the Matchmaking system that Bungie was forced to resolve the problem by releasing auto-updates which ban hackers from the system and terminate their accounts. Bungie has banned thousands of players and is working to clean up the rest, earning in the process the moniker 'Banhammer.' Several sites offer a list of cheaters and hackers.

Although there used to be several ways to mod, Xbox Live and Bungie have collaborated to rectify the programming mistakes and prevent the game from being modded as much. They are also reinforcing much stricter punishments for cheaters, such as instant bans and longer suspensions.

Halo 5: Forge

The Exuberant mod tool by YouTuber GameCheat13 allows players to:

• Customize armor/ weapons without the need for REQs or a console to make changes
• Change the player HUD to a HUD from the Campaign (ex. Frederic-104's HUD, etc.)
• Change player field-of-view
• Change player Spartan ID fields (assassinations, announcer, and emblem)
• Enable a local Forge server for testing AI

You cannot be banned for using Exuberant unless you are using options from the "Local Only" tab. However, enabling AI in forge online will result in a ban.

Because Halo 5: Forge does not have Arena or Warzone, player progress on Xbox One will not be harmed.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Modding is officially supported by Halo: The Master Chief Collection for all games within, including Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach and Halo 4, as well as the multiplayer of Halo 2: Anniversary. While anticheat is disabled, players cannot enter matchmaking and progression progress is not saved to the Halo Waypoint servers. However, players will not be punished for any mods run while anticheat is disabled. Some mods such as menu background replacers can be run with anticheat enabled without penalty.

To mod The Master Chief Collection, there are several programs available, both official and unofficial. Due to the games in the collection being those available for the Xbox 360, Assembly is compatible with MCC files and tags. A full list of useful software is below;

• Assembly | How to use Assembly for MCC. - Used for editing tags in-game within Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach and Halo 4.
• UE Viewer - Useful for extracting icons, meshes and textures from the Unreal Engine 4 menus of The Master Chief Collection.
• MCC Texture Pack Dumper - Useful for extracting texturepack files from The Master Chief Collection containing many UI elements such as emblems, nameplates and more.
• Halo: Combat Evolved Mod Tools - officially-released modding toolset available for download on Steam.
• Halo 2 Mod Tools - officially-released modding toolset available for download on Steam.
• Halo 3 Mod Tools - officially-released modding toolset available for download on Steam.
• Halo 3: ODST Mod Tools - officially-released modding toolset available for download on Steam.
• Halo: Reach Mod Tools - officially-released modding toolset available for download on Steam.
• Halo 4 Mod Tools - officially-released modding toolset available for download on Steam.
• Halo MCC Mod Uploader - official tool for uploading mods to Steam's Workshop.

A large selection of user-created mods can be found at The Master Chief Collection on Nexus Mods, as well as at the game's Workshop page on Steam.

Halo Wars series modding

A Wuzum-pattern Spectre modded into Halo Wars: Definitive Edition.

Thanks to the PC releases of Halo Wars: Definitive Edition and Halo Wars 2, modding can also be conducted on these games - however no official mod tools exist for these games. Nonetheless, a number of community mod tools have been developed to assist in creating custom content for Halo Wars.

Within Halo Wars: Definitive Edition, modding can be used to implement custom infantry, vehicles and buildings, leaders, techs and other settings. New additions can range from simply tweaking what already exists in the Halo Wars files to adding in characters and vehicles from other Halo games to adding completely custom models.

A number of community resources exist to enable easier modding of Halo Wars, listed below.

• Halo Wars Modding Wiki - a wiki based around modding of Halo Wars: Definitive Edition.
• Halo Wars Modding - a blog with comprehensive tutorials surrounding the modding of Halo Wars and Halo Wars 2.
• Halo Wars Modding Discord server - a Discord server dedicated to modding Halo Wars games.

Gallery

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  Enforcers fighting an ODST on Sandtrap.

• 

  A Guardian Sentinel on Guardian.

• 

  The Ur-Didact on Sandtrap.